Improvement in processes of restoring crape, laces



UNITED STATES L JEQ- AARON J. SHRIVER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNORTO SARAH M.

SHRIVER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OF RESTORING CRAPE, LACES, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 79,361, dated June27, 1876; application filed April 27, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON J osnrn Sunr- VER, of Baltimore city, State ofMaryland, have invented a new and Improved Process of Restoring Grapeand Laces and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a novel process of cleaning and restoringrumpled and faded crape, lace, and other similar thin material. 1tconsists in immersing the fabric in a specially-prepared solution,consisting of alcohols, a suitable dye-stuff, and shellac, andafterwards subjecting the material to the action of steam, which bringsout-the color of the dye, drives off the alcohol, and crimps the fiber,the shellac serving to hold the fiber in its crimped form, so as topresent the original texture of the fabric when new.

In carrying out my invention for restoring black crape or black laces, Itake one pint of alcohol,-and add to the same one package of Britishink-powder, containing usually about one and one-quarter ounce, andcomposed of about three parts, by weight, of red-oak bark, two parts ofsulphate of iron, and two of gumarabic. This mixture is allowed to standfor about ten hours, being frequently stirred to efi'ect the extractionand solution of the dye principle, which gradually imparts to the liquida dark, and, finally, a blackish color. The solution is then allowed tostand and settle, and is either decanted or strained. To the clearliquid I then addrabout one-eighth of an ounce of she1lac, and after itis t-horoughly dissolved the solution is ready for use. In

making use of the same, the rusty and rumpled crape or lace is immersedfor a few moments in the solution, until it is thoroughly saturated withthe same, and then exposed to a jet of hot steam, the material beingpassed through the steam until every portion of the fabric has beensubjected to the action of the same. For ordinary purposes the steamissuing from the spout of a kettle of boiling water will be sufficient;but when the process is employed upon a larger scale speciallyconstructed generators will be employed.

The action of the steam is to bring out freshly and clearly the color ofthe dye, and

to crimp the fiber, so as to impart to the fabric the peculiar texturethat it possesses when new. The shellac, being insoluble in water, isleft in a dried condition upon the fabric as crimped by the steam,.andserves to hold it in this condition, which the steam imparts to it, thealcohol being evaporated in consequence of its more volatile character.

In using my solution in connection with the steam process, I do notconfine myself to the British ink-powder; but I may use otherdye-stuffs, according to the color and shade of the material to berestored. I use British ink-powder, however, as a cheap and good dye forrestoring to materials their original black color.

I do not confine myself either to the use of shellac alone, but may usegum sandarac, mastic, or any other gum for imparting stilfness which issoluble in alcohol, and not soluble in water. I

My process, as thus described, completely restores the texture, as wellas the color, of crape, laces, and all other fine fabric, at a smallcost, thus utilizing old material, and investing them with nearly thesame appearance and value as when new.

1 am aware of the fact that a solution composed of ultramarine, shellac,and alchohol has been used for stiffening hat-bodies; but this could notbe used for the purpose of restoring crapes and laces, for the reasonthat ultramarine not being a dye stuff, but a powdered mineral forming apigment, it operates mechanically, and would so obstruct the meshes ofthe fabric as to interfere with and prevent the subsequent operation ofcrimping. I therefore fully disclaim the, said solution, and confine myinvention to the terms of the claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- Theherein-described process of restoring the color and texture of crape,laces, &c., by first immersing them in a solution consisting of alcohol,a dye-stuff, and a stiffening-gum, in about the proportions specified,and then subjecting them to the action of steam, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

A. J. SHRIVER.

Witnesses:

EDWD. W. BYRN, OHAs. A. Pnrrrr.

